"Unscheduled off world activation"

Sam went down to the control room and stood behind the sergeant. "It's Dr. Jackson's IDC."

"Open the iris."

She went down to the gate room to greet Daniel and was thrilled to see Rya'c was with him. She wanted to hug him, since she had not seen him in over a year, but she knew he would not be pleased by the show of affection in front of the SGC personnel. She opted for putting out her arm and gripping him just below the elbow, just as he gripped her.

"Rya'c, it's good to see you again."

"I wish I was here with good tidings, General Carter."

Sam glanced at Daniel. "In that case we should go upstairs to my office."

"My father has been trying to make peace between the Jaffa alliance and a few renegade groups, even though the alliance leaders have forbidden him from meeting with the renegades."

"I'm guess it isn't good news based on the looks on your faces."

Rya'c shook his head. "It is not. My father has been taken prisoner by a group of renegade Jaffa led by Nyson."

Sam looked between the two men. "And you want us to help you go get him."

Rya'c scowled. "The Jaffa alliance will not allow me to go after him. His defiance of their law against associating with the renegades has made them look weak and they are not anxious to have him return."

Sam leaned forward on her desk. "So, you want the SGC to rescue him?"

"Yes, that is why I have come."

Sam leaned back in her chair. "The SGC can't be seen as interfering in the Jaffa alliance's affairs."

Rya'c hastily stood, "Then you will not help him either! This trip was a waste of my time!"

Sam put her hands up. "I said the SGC can't interfere, but I never said I wouldn't help."

Rya'c looked from Sam to Daniel. "I do not understand."

Daniel shrugged. "I'm a civilian. My actions are not the actions of the SGC."

"And I have some leave built up." Sam gestured towards the chair Rya'c had recently abandoned. "Tell us what you know."

"Jack, it's good to see you. I knew you'd stay in the mix even after retirement."

Jack shook hands with Colonel Myers, the Beta site commander. "Training new recruits lets me have enough schedule leeway that I can get to my cabin as often as I like."

"And bringing them here is a great idea."

"I'm glad you and the pentagon agree." Jack watched his small group of trainees file down the ramp, followed by General Carter and Daniel. "Alright boys and girls, put your bags in your rooms and meet me back out here in ten."

"General, I didn't know you'd be joining the trainees."

"It was a last-minute decision."

"Well, I'm glad to have you. I'll get some quarters ready for you."

"Thanks." Sam felt bad as General Myers left to prepare for her surprise arrival. She spun back towards the gate as Daniel started dialing. She and Jack both picked up their duffel bags and went through the gate before the Beta site personnel knew what happened.

They were positioned on a hill overlooking a small settlement. "There." Sam pointed to a small shed to the south of the center of the encampment.

"I see it. By my count there are still two guards in there."

"Agreed."

They waited six hours, until there was one guard in the shed where they believed Teal'c was being held.

Jack rolled over and looked at Sam and Daniel. "You guys cover me while I get him out."

Sam reached out and grabbed his upper arm. "Not this time, Jack."

"What?"

"I'm a much better lock pick and chances are there will be locks to pick."

"I'll just blow them up."

"Very stealthy." Daniel couldn't help but grin at their banter. Living together for the last couple years had changed their dynamic in the field. Sam glared at Jack. "I can make it an order."

"I'm a civilian."

"And I'm still in charge, even if we are all technically on vacation."

Jack's jaw twitched. "Fine, we'll cover you."

Sam reached the shed without being noticed. She jiggled the door, which brought the lone guard to the door. She hit him in the throat, silencing and incapacitating him swiftly. A few more hits and he was unconscious. She dragged him inside and locked the door behind her. Teal'c was in a small cage near the back wall.

"Teal'c, it's Sam." The lack of an answer worried her. Sam toggled her radio. "I'm in."

"Good, make it quick and let us know when you're ready to leave."

"Will do." Sam pulled her tools out of her vest. "Ok, Teal'c. I'm going get you out of there and then we're going home." It was dark on the side of the room where the cage was located so she couldn't tell if he moved or not. She shown a small penlight at the lock, hoping the concentrated light wouldn't be noticed.

"Jack." Daniel pointed at the horizon.

"Damn." Jack toggled his radio. "You've gotta get out now Sam."

"I've almost got the lock."

"There's no time. You can try again later."

"I'm close, just another minute."

"No, Sam. Two alkesh are about to land. You'll be surrounded any minute."

Sam looked towards the door and then back at Teal'c, curled up in the cage. "I can't Jack. I'm not sure he'll make it if I don't get him out now."

Jack closed his eyes. "Sam."

"I got it." She opened the cell door and went to Teal'c. She rolled him over and used the light to examine his face and torso. His face was swollen almost beyond recognition and his clothes were covered in spots of blood and dirt. "Teal'c we have to go. Come on Teal'c."

"Sam, they're landing."

"He isn't responsive, and I don't think I can drag him out unnoticed." She reached into her vest pocket and pulled out a tretonin syringe.

"There are at least twenty Jaffa outside your building now so no, going unnoticed won't be an option."

"Jack, look." Daniel pointed, and Jack used his night vision goggles.

"Shit." He toggled his radio. "Their making a beeline for you. Is there a back-way out?"

Sam looked around just to be sure before she answered. "No."

"We'll create a distraction."

"Don't you dare. We'll need you to get us free."

"Sam."

As the door to the room opened Sam switched her radio to broadcast, so Daniel and Jack could hear the exchange, and slid the lockpicking tools and tretonin into her bra.

"I love you."

Daniel looked over at Jack, expecting him to respond. Instead Jack slammed his fist into the ground as he watched the Jaffa move into the building.

"Who are you?"

Sam slowly stood and rotated to face the men entering the room with her hands held up beside her head. Nyson shined a light at the guard lying unconscious on the floor. "Should I assume this is your work?"

"Seems reasonable." Jack rolled his eyes, assuming her response was thanks to serving under him for so many years.

"Get her out." Two men reached into the cage, grabbed Sam's arms, and roughly pulled her out into the center of the room. Numerous handheld lights were pointed in her direction.

"I heard you confessing your love to him." Nyson walked closer to her and punched her in the center of her abdomen. Sam grunted as she bent forward. "As I suspected, you are not Jaffa."

The men holding Sam's arms dropped her to the ground. It took her a moment to recover her breath. "You're another Einstein."

Nyson's eyes narrowed, not understanding her reference but acknowledging her mocking tone. "You must be one of the Tauri Teal'c visits so often." Sam just glared up at him. "Did you come to rescue your love?"

"Seems pretty obvious."

Daniel kept his eyes on Jack. "I bet she didn't antagonize her captures before she met you." Jack just sighed, refusing to make light of her capture.

"I guess you noticed he isn't in any condition to run away with you." Nyson walked around Sam and looked into the cell where Teal'c was still lying. "He hasn't told me what I want to know yet. I was worried he was going to die rather than tell me, but now that you're here," he turned back to look at her, "perhaps you will be just the leverage I need. Search her." The same two men lifted her while a third roughly patted her down. They took her vest, belt, guns, knife, and radio, but they missed the lockpicking tools and tretonin in her bra.

"Put her in there with him." She was lifted and flung into the cell, hitting Teal'c as she landed. "I want three of you in here at all times. Station four more outside."

Once Sam was alone with Teal'c and their guards she crawled over to him, lifted his head, and cradled it in her lap. She caressed his cheek while she asked him to open his eyes. He didn't respond. Sam rubbed his sternum and was rewarded with a small moan. Once their guards had their backs turned, she slipped the tretonin from her bra and gave him an injection, before hiding the syringe again. She let him rest, while keeping a close eye on his respirations.

A few hours later a Jaffa entered the room and moved to the side of the cage closest to them. He ran a scanner over them and when he was done, he gave them a jug of water and some food. The guards changed once before morning. Sam stayed awake, talking to Teal'c even though he never answered.

"Welcome to morn, Tauri. It is time to seek answers." Nyson looked towards his men. "Bring them." The cage was opened and Teal'c was dragged from her arms. She was pulled out after him and taken to a post outside the building. Her hands were bound to a metal bar, which was then attached to the post above her head. Teal'c was also cuffed to a metal bar but he was laid on the ground about eight feet from Sam. The same Jaffa that had scanned her earlier knelt and gave Teal'c a shot. Within moments he started groaning.

Jack nudged Daniel awake and pointed. It took Daniel a moment to focus. "So, what now?"

"Now, we get them out of there."

"How?"

"Still working on that."

"Teal'c, I need to thank you for being me your guest." One of the guards grabbed the metal bar and pulled Teal'c's torso part of the way up. His squinted, trying to focus. "She came to rescue you. I thought you were in a relationship with a strong Jaffa woman but instead this weak former Goa'uld showed up professing her love and trying to rescue you."

Nyson turned to face Sam. "Did you know he was not loyal to you?"

"I was never a Goa'uld."

Nyson shook his head as he moved closer to her. "Lies, you can't hide the evidence left within your body." Nyson struck her across the face, leaving her with a busted lip. "I will not tolerate lies." He turned back towards Teal'c. "Get him up!"

Two Jaffa dragged Teal'c up on his knees and a third one held his head up. Nyson moved to stand beside him. "Your rescuer says she was not a Goa'uld, but her blood says otherwise." He turned to look at Sam. "If you are not lying then that means you were a Tok'ra." He looked down at Teal'c and grasped his face. "Am I really this lucky? Did you bring me a former Tok'ra?" He laughed as he turned back to Sam.

He moved close to her and grabbed her hair. "Goa'uld or Tok'ra?" Sam's jaw tensed. He grabbed her throat. "Goa'uld or Tok'ra?" He began squeezing.

"Tok'ka."

Jack slightly relaxed as Nyson let go of Sam's throat and hair.

Nyson smiled. "Who knew I could be so lucky? You will tell me where I can find the Tok'ra."

Sam's brow knitted. "I have no idea. I haven't heard from a Tok'ra, let alone seen one, in years."

"Am just supposed to believe you?" Sam gave him a small shrug. "I think not." He held his hand out and one of his Jaffa handed him a pain stick. "You will tell me." As he moved the pain stick towards her the building where she had been held blew up.

The Jaffa ducked but Nyson stood straighter. "You are not here alone." He looked from the building to Sam. "Put her in my ship" Gun fire started from behind the blast. "Now!"

One of the Jaffa grabbed Teal'c. "Leave him." The Jaffa dropped him and followed Nyson. Sam was tossed into an alkesh, still bound to the metal bar. Daniel and Jack rushed out from behind the ruins of the building but were too late to stop the alkesh. When the fighting stopped Daniel and Jack were surrounded by eighteen dead Jaffa and one alkesh that never made it off the ground. Teal'c was lying in the circle, still bound. Daniel went to him while Jack watched to be sure no other Jaffa attacked them.

"Teal'c." Daniel glanced over at Jack. "Come on Teal'c, wake up." Daniel pulled a syringe of tretonin from his vest and injected Teal'c. Together they dragged Teal'c into the alkesh.

"Can you follow them?"

"I don't know." Jack sat down in the pilot's chair. "But I'm sure as hell gonna try."

Teal'c moaned and Daniel propped him up against the wall. Daniel pulled out some smelling salts and waived them under Teal'c's nose. He twisted his head away from the smell and then opened his eyes.

"He's awake."

"Damn!"

Daniel turned back towards Jack. "What?"

Jack slammed the palm of his hand against the consol. "I lost them." Jack pushed up out of the chair and went back to Daniel and Teal'c.

"T, where's he taking Sam?"

"Sam?"

Jack put his hand on the side of Teal'c's face, forcing him to make eye contact. "That bastard's got Sam. Where's he going to take her?"

"Pydran."

"Pydran? Where's that?"

Teal'c tried to rise but fell back to the floor. He tried again, and this time Daniel and Jack helped him to the pilot's chair. He stared at the controls for a moment before plotting a course. "It will take us a day and a half to get there."

"Damn, that's a day and a half of him torturing her. What's his deal anyway?"

Teal'c rubbed his neck. "Nyson wants to hunt down all the Tok'ra, to rid this galaxy of all mature symbiotes."

Daniel's brow furrowed. "That's insane. Has he forgotten that the majority of Jaffa still use immature symbiotes?"

"He has not. He is also searching for a queen to use as breeding stock. He knows the Goa'uld kept their queens sequestered and he has been hunting for where they were moved as the system lords fell."

Daniel leaned forward on Teal'c's chair. "The Jaffa council isn't interested in finding the queens?"

"They showed interest in his plan to find the queens but were not willing to dedicate the resources he requested. They also chose not to pursue the Tok'ra."

"At least the Jaffa council isn't insane. Guess once they told him no, he took off on his own."

"Indeed. I had hoped to convince him to let go of his obsession, but I was unsuccessful."

"Obviously."

Daniel moved towards the pilot's chair. "We've got over a day until we get there so why don't you two get some rest."

"I'm fine, I can…"

"No, Jack. You haven't slept since we left Earth. You need to get some rest if you're going to be ready to save her when we get there."

Jack's lips twisted for a moment before he nodded. "Fine."